Hall County residents can expect thunderstorms this afternoon but should miss any chance of severe weather.

There is a near guarantee of thunderstorms throughout the county tomorrow — with a 100 percent chance — and rain is likely to continue throughout the week, said  Jessica Fieux, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

“Pretty much through the weekend expect a chance of rain with Wednesday being the best day of (Hall County residents) seeing rain and thunderstorms,” Fieux said.

There is a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms across the county today and a slight chance that some of Georgia will experience severe weather today. Hall County should not be affected by any severe weather, Fieux said.

The current weather pattern has produced numerous short waves of storms that have been weaving through the area since Sunday.

The Weather Service reported more than an inch of rain fell at Gainesville’s Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport on Monday and the chance of rain will continue through the weekend with the slimmest chances of rain — 20 percent — on Friday. The rain has helped to raise Lake Lanier's level. At 10 a.m. today, Lanier stood at 1,064.32 feet, just over six and a half feet below full pool.

Recent rains have improved North Georgia’s drought situation, with Gainesville receiving 4.95 inches of rainfall in April — 0.95 inches above the 30-year average of 4.06 inches, Fieux said.

Average May rainfall in Gainesville is 4.33 inches, Fieux said.